JISM 2- Reviews

Jism - 2
By Taran Adarsh, 3 Aug 2012, 09:52 hrs IST

JISM 2, an erotic thriller, is touted as the boldest film [in that segment] to hit the Hindi screen, but the question that crosses your mind is, does it boast of a captivating story as well? Do you carry the film and the characters in your heart once you exit the auditorium? Most importantly, do you reminisce about it? Does it have recall value? Or does one forget about it the moment the show concludes?

Although JISM 2 is the second installment of the 2003 hit that starred Bipasha Basu and John Abraham, there's a huge disparity between the two films. JISM 2 is visually stunning, the aesthetics are just right, but the voyage of a woman from the lust bazaar who markets desire is far from perfect. The lackluster screenplay of JISM 2 is its biggest undoing!

The star of the show is, without doubt, Sunny Leone. People are looking forward to watching JISM 2 for Sunny, erotica and a generous dose of skin show, in that order. In fact, a wide section of moviegoers might frequent the cineplexes to watch Sunny alone, but for another segment it could be erotica. As the reels unfold, you realize that Sunny delivers as an actor. Unfortunately, the script doesn't.

The other issue is that the story of JISM 2 unfolds at a leisurely pace, which shouldn't be the case if it's meant to be a thriller. Also, it gets too verbose and talk-heavy after a point, with Randeep Hooda's character delivering idealistic lines that test your tolerance. Notwithstanding the blemishes, the fact remains, the curiosity to watch Sunny Leone will act as its savior.

A po*n star, Izna [Sunny Leone], is entrusted the responsibility of luring a dreaded assassin, Kabir [Randeep Hooda]. The people behind the task are two intelligence officers, Guru [Arif Zakaria] and Ayaan [Arunoday Singh], who need to recover some vital data from Kabir. Izna has to confront her bitter-sweet past, but the problem arises when Ayaan falls in love with her. She has to make a choice!

There's no denying that Pooja Bhatt has extracted an arresting performance from Sunny Leone. But the screenplay plays a complete spoilsport. This could've been a convincing take on obsession, vengeance and infidelity, but there's hardly any movement in the story. Plus, a few questions remain unanswered [How does Sunny get into the po*n trade? When does Arunoday have a change of heart and fall in love with Sunny?]. Besides, the film is stretched without much reason in its post-interval portions. Additionally, you don't have compassion for any of the characters, as the film draws to a close.

The music of JISM 2 is soothing and soulful. The emphasis is clearly on melody here. The cinematography is top notch. The DoP captures the lush green locales of Sri Lanka magnificently.

Sunny Leone is dazzling to look at and has an incredible body, but does she deliver as an actress? To start with, Pooja has, very smartly, cast her as a seductress. Sunny's gestures, body language, erotic scenes and sex appeal are, unquestionably, far more seasoned than most divas, who restrain a sort of hesitation when it comes to steamy scenes. She is scorching hot in JISM 2 and takes the heat percentage to an altogether different level. Sunny's maiden attempt at acting comes across as confident and charming, but, at the same time, there is scope for improvement, especially during the emotional moments.

Despite Sunny and the hype adjoining her, Randeep enacts a pivotal character with aplomb. In fact, Randeep has lucratively carved a niche for himself, creating a space of his own with films like ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI, SAHEB BIWI AUR GANGSTER and JANNAT 2. He pitches in another striking act in JISM 2. Arunoday tries hard, but is not convincing enough. Also, he is awfully awkward and ill at ease in sequences that require him to breakdown emotionally.

Arif Zakaria is a name you correlate with competent performances and he is effective in this one as well. Sumeet Nijhawan gets limited scope. Imran Zahid is hardly there.

On the whole, JISM 2 has Sunny Leone as its USP, but the lackluster screenplay and the sluggish pace act as deterrents. However, Sunny Leone in the driver's seat, coupled with a generous dose of skin show and erotica, besides an attention-grabbing title, should act as a honey-trap to lure the audiences. But how one wishes this jism had soul as well!

LOL

The pun isn't lost on any of us.

Leone and Hooda happen to be an ex-item and that's why she's picked to do the job. That's all you really need to know. Everything else is just a tedious build up of gibberish babble and unintentional hilarity that act like space fillers leading up to lengthy love-making sessions between Leone-Hooda/Leone-Singh.

That, however, is neither its undoing nor its strength. At best, it's just a blank, expressionless parade of rehearsed intimacy featuring an entire catalogue of seductive poses and salon-polished skin playing against various artists' bland soundtrack, which is better suited for exotic spa or honeymoon package commercials. Hollowness, not audacity, is Jism 2's real problem.

In most movies of this genre, sex is employed as a sly tool to arouse psychological intrigue and suspicion, where lack of inhibition works as a disturbing element (Eyes Wide Shut, Sleeping Beauty, anyone?) instead of shabby titillation. But what can one say about a film so paranoid that characters react with such emotional exaggeration and neuroticism as if a nuclear holocaust is upon us?

Things get irreversibly dreary after a while. I mean, how many times can one watch two people with zero chemistry going at it, again and again and, well, you get the drift. The one good thing about Jism 2 is the lush green resort it has been shot in -- Gaul, Sri Lanka. At one point, the possibility of getting a detailed tour of the resort or even its unoccupied rooms seems more exciting than yet another glimpse of Leone's undressed torso.

The earlier Jism, (although not on my list of DVDs I'd take on a deserted island) at least had some edge, a sinister motive and a heady physical chemistry between John Abraham [ Images ] and Basu. But in Jism 2, all this is clearly of no consequence. Moreover, it's impossible to concentrate on anything except the dialogues, which are so, SO cheesy, it'll split your sides. Hold on, I've noted down a few:

'Apne dil ki shikayat khoon se kardi, bas ek shikayat hai ki kaash mere khoon ka rang mere ishq ki tarah gehra hota.'

'Usse pyaar karna meri woh pyaas thi jisse pyaas bujhti thi meri.'

'Tumhe sab kuch karna hai. Sab kuch. (Insert winks.)'

'Hum dono ek doosre se jhooth bol sakte hain par iss jism ka kya karen?'

'Jo aadmi apne mulk se wafadari nahi kar saka, usne iske jism se wafadari kardi.'

'Jo kaam ek mehbooba nahi kar sakti, woh ek biwi hi kar sakti hai.'

'Aao iss lamhe ko jee lete hain. Amar kar dete hain.'

The screenplay is just as dim-witted. In one of the scenes, Leone hands Hooda a love letter, which the latter sniffs as if it's English Lavender. It's some cheap brand of stinky orange-red ink, of course, passed off as Leone blood scribbling lines you'll only read in amateur teen romances, 'You came into my life like the moon.'

Really, Pooja? I've always regarded the plucky star of some breezy 1990s rom-coms as someone effortlessly articulate and open-minded but surprisingly it has never reflected in a single one of her movies. Her direction and dad Mahesh Bhatt's [ Images ] script is so defective and daft wherein nothing makes any sense reducing its lady protagonist to a weak-minded puppet.

It takes one fleeting, uninspiring meeting between Hooda and Leone before you know she's gorging on him like a subway wrap. For all their reckless deadliness, both secret government agents and hard-boiled terrorists behave like air-headed school boys sulking and breaking down over their voluptuous object of affection. Speaking of which, why would any self-respecting woman (so what if she's a po*n star in and outside the movie) romp about in provocative, barely-there lingerie while sharing space with a sort-of employer she's getting paid by to spy for.

It's like Sunny Leone's assets are the script, screenplay and sole purpose of Jism 2 and everyone outside that -- Hooda, Singh, Zakaria or the audience -- is obliged to wag their tongues with thrill. Well, duh, for thinking otherwise.

Rediff Rating: